Safety devices for firearms

ABSTRACT

Safety devices for firearms have been disclosed. A disclosed safety device comprises a lock plate having a non-round bore penetrated by a striker. Is also includes a locking element rotatably mounted on the striker to immobilize the striker sufficiently to prevent firing of a cartridge. The locking element has at least one radial projection. A combined outer contour of the at least one radial projection and the striker is complementary to the non-round bore of the lock plate such that the locking element can only pass into the non-round bore when the locking element is positioned in a predetermined angular position. The safety device also includes at least one pushbutton accessible on the outside of the firearm and operatively coupled to the locking element to rotate the locking element around the striker to unlock the safety lock.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent arises from a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/EP02/14595, which was filed on Dec. 19, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to firearms, and, more particularly, to safety devices for firearms

BACKGROUND

Safety devices for hand guns are known. However, some prior art safety devices suffer from considerable disadvantages. For example, some prior art safety devices require an expendable source of energy, without which the weapon cannot be armed. Some prior art safety devices are so voluminous that they require their own special weapon constructions. Some prior art safety devices have combination locks with dials or the like which carry numbers or symbols that require good lighting and visibility conditions in order to be set. Further, when the combination is set on the shooting stand, the setting procedure can be observed by another person and then reproduced if need be.

The purpose of safety devices is to prevent the use of the weapon by unauthorized persons. However, it is unnecessary and also often very unsafe if the authorization must be checked immediately before the firing of a shot. As a general rule, it is sufficient if the weapon is released for firing at the beginning of a situation in which the firing of a shot can be assumed. Such situations exist, for example, on the shooting stand (e.g., at a firing range), on hunting grounds, or the like.

In certain situations, it is important that the weapon be used immediately, without prior unlocking causing a delay or demanding the attention of the shooter. For this reason, some shooters still prefer weapons without a safety, for example, most revolvers or weapons with a grip safety. If such a shooter is equipped, for example, with a weapon that is only released for firing after a positive check of the shooter's fingerprint sample and, if the shooter's hand has to be positioned exactly and without a glove for this check, and if this process also takes a certain period of time, the shooter will then strive to bypass the safety device. But a weapon with a bypassed safety can then be used by unauthorized persons at any time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left, rear perspective view of an example pistol equipped with an example slide incorporating an example safety device.

FIG. 2 is a right, rear perspective view of the pistol of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the back part of the slide and safety lock of the example firearm of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear, perspective view of the striker and parts of the safety lock of the example weapon of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front, perspective view of the striker and parts of the safety lock of the example weapon of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the slide and the safety lock, shown in a secured state (with the safety lock in the neutral position).

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the button being actuated to toggle the lock washer of the safety lock to a next position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing resetting of the safety lock.

All of the figures show one and the same example pistol or parts of the same pistol. However, the same scale is not always used in all of the figures. Where it clarifies the illustration, components are omitted. Some reference numbers are omitted in some figures in order to not overload the figures and render them illegible. However, all reference numbers are used consistently throughout the following description and all of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example semi-automatic pistol with a grip 1, a slide 3, and a cocking piece/hammer 5. The hammer 5 is accessible from outside the firearm. An example safety lock is located in the back part of the slide 3. The illustrated safety lock has three control/combination buttons 37 located on the left side of the slide 3. It also includes a reset button 61 (see FIG. 2) positioned on the right side of the slide 3. These four buttons 37, 61 are actuated to manipulate the lock between the locked state and the unlocked state.

Before detailing an example mechanism for implementing the safety lock, as an overview it is noted that, the except for the buttons 37 and the re-set button 61, the safety lock is preferably inaccessible from outside the weapon. Thus, except for the combination buttons 37 and the reset button 61, the safety lock is entirely enclosed within the slide 3. Moreover, although the safety lock is a combination type lock, preferably there are no visible symbols or numbers to indicate an entered combination on the exterior of the weapon. Instead, the lock is released by pushing one or more of the control buttons 37 predetermined number(s) of times corresponding to the combination of the lock. When the buttons 37 have been manipulated in accordance with the combination, the safety lock enters the “ready for firing” state (i.e., the unlocked state). If the buttons 37 are not properly manipulated (i.e., the correct combination is not input to the control buttons 37), the striker 15 is precluded from reaching the cartridge and, thus, a shot may not be fired.

As will be clear from the following, in the illustrated example each of the buttons is coupled to an adjustment mechanism 25. Each of the adjustment mechanisms 25 effectively acts as a counter. When each of the adjustment mechanisms/counters 25 is set to the correct count, the lock enters the released state. If any of the adjustment mechanisms/counters 25 are not set to the correct count, the lock enters or remains in the locked state and firing is precluded. As a more concrete example, if one assumes that the combination of the safety lock is “123,” then the safety lock can only be released by pushing and releasing the forward most control button 37 one time, by pushing and releasing the middle control button 37 two times, and by pushing and releasing the rearmost control button 37 three times. Any other inputs (i.e., toggling any of the buttons 37 a different number of times than that specified by the combination) will not release the lock. The control buttons 37 may be actuated to the correct “count” in any order. In other words, in the “123” combination example given above, the lock will enter the locked state irrespective of which control button 37 reaches the correct count first, second and/or third.

As explained in detail below, the reset button 61 serves to return the counters to a reset or neutral state (e.g., to reset all of the adjustment mechanisms/counters 25 to zero). Thus, if the safety lock was previously unlocked, by actuating the reset button 61 the user immediately locks the safety lock. Resetting the adjustment mechanisms/counters 25 also ensures that toggling each of the buttons 37 the correct number of times will release the lock. If one were to enter the combination with one or more of the counters 25 inadvertently set to a number other than zero, the correct combination would not be reached and the weapon would remain in the locked state.

When the safety lock is in the locked state, all conventional, mechanical functions of the weapon, except for the firing of a cartridge, are possible. For example, loading the weapon, pulling the trigger, etc. may be performed without any danger of firing a shot, even if there is a cartridge in the barrel.

Turning to a more detailed discussion of an example implementation of the safety lock described above, FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the example safety lock employed in the firearm of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 4 through 8 show different views of the same safety lock, in some instances, with partially omitted components. The illustrated safety lock is mounted around the striker 15. The safety lock only allows movement of the striker 15 when the safety lock, or rather its parts, have an exactly defined position (i.e., when the safety lock is in the released/unlocked state). When the safety lock components are in any other position, (including in the neutral position mentioned above), the safety lock prevents (or at least limits) movement of the striker 15, such that the striker 15 cannot fire a cartridge.

The striker 15 is guided in the longitudinal direction in a mounting hole 17 of the slide 3. To this end, the striker 15 has a middle section 19, which slides in the bore hole 17. In order to prevent the formation of air pillows in the striker bore hole 17, longitudinal grooves can be drilled in the bore hole 17 or in the middle section 19 of the striker 15. The forward tip of the striker 15 is tapered (see FIG. 4). Opposite the forward tip, the striker 15 has a rear end section 21. The rearmost surface of the end section 21 sticks out of the back of the slide 3 to provide a striking surface for the hammer 5. In other words, when the trigger is pulled, the hammer 5 strikes the back end of the end section 21 of the striker 15 to fire a shot.

Three locking elements 23 that support each other axially are arranged adjacent one another on the end section 21. Behind the last locking element 23, a transverse pin 29 penetrates the striker 15. The length of the pin 29 is greater than the diameter of the end section 21 such that the ends of the pin 29 extend out of the end section 21 and, thus, prevent the locking elements 23 from moving rearward relative to the end section 21 of the striker 15. Each locking element 23 has a bore hole which is penetrated by the striker 15. Thus, each locking element 23 sits in a rotatable manner on the back section 21 of the striker 15. The locking elements 23 are supported on the striker 15 in an axially immobile, but rotatable, manner.

In order to limit axial movement of the locking elements 23 (and, thus, the striker 15) relative to the slide 3, the safety lock is provided with a plurality of star wheels 35. Each star wheel 35 (preferably made of metal) is rotatably mounted on the striker 15. Thus, each star wheel 35 includes a bore for receiving the striker 15, and a keyhole 57 structured to cooperate with a corresponding locking member 23 as explained below to permit axial movement of the striker 15 when the safety lock is in the unlocked state.

The star wheels 35 are secured in the slide 3 against axial movement. Preferably, each star wheel 35 may be rotated between and angularly secured in any of ten angular positions. To this end, each star wheel 35 has a number of catch grooves 51 in its outer perimeter. The top side of the slide 3 defines a plurality of cavities sized to receive a catch body 53 and a catch spring 55. Each catch body 53 is downwardly loaded by its corresponding catch spring 55 such that each catch body 53 engages in a groove 51 in the star wheel 35 to hold the star wheel 35 in one of ten angular positions. When the star wheel 35 is rotated (e.g., to change the combination of the weapon), the catch body 53 is moved upward against the force of the corresponding catch spring 55 until another catch groove 51 becomes aligned with the catch body 53, at which point the catch body 53 again drops down to engage the groove 51 of the star wheel 35. Thus, the catch grooves 51 ensure that the star wheel 35 (and, thus, its keyhole 57) is positioned and held in one of the ten, exact angular positions.

The angular positions of the star wheels 35 define the combination required to release the safety lock. An example manner of adjusting the angular positions of the star wheels 35 to set a new combination is explained in detail below.

A locking element 23 is disposed rearward (i.e., toward the shooter) of each star wheel 35. Each locking element 23 has a radially projecting, longitudinally extending nose/bar 27, which is sized to pass through the keyhole 57 of the corresponding star wheel 35 when the safety lock is in the unlocked state. A pinned or otherwise permanently attached, back-bearing cover 31 prevents access to the safety lock via, for example, the hammer opening. The cover 31 is preferably not removable, at least not by laypersons.

In the illustrated example, three locking elements 23 and three star wheels 35 are shown. Each of the locking elements may be positioned in any of the ten (10) possible settings/angular positions of the star wheels 35. The illustrated safety lock, therefore, has 10³ (i.e., one thousand) possible variations. If four locking elements 23 and four star wheels 35 were instead present, then there would be 10⁴ (i.e., 10,000) possible variations, etc. In accordance with spatial requirements, the necessary safety, and the demanded ease of use, three locking elements 23 and three star wheels 35 (each with 10 possible settings) are most likely the best compromise.

An adjusting mechanism 25 sits in a rotatable manner on each locking element 23. In the illustrated example, each adjusting mechanism 25 includes a ratchet wheel 33 (preferably made of metal), a control button 37 for rotating the ratchet wheel 33, and a reset spring 39 for resetting the adjusting mechanism 25 and the associated locking element 23. A button retaining spring 41 and a claw 43 are assigned to each button 37. These elements can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 6 through 8.

Each ratchet wheel 33 is coupled to a respective one of the locking members 23 such that rotating a ratchet wheel 33 relative to the striker 15 and relative to one of the star wheels 35 rotates the associated locking element 23 a like amount. Each ratchet wheel 33 has ten latch teeth 45 and an axially protruding end tooth 47 located next to one of the latch teeth 45. The ten latch teeth 45 have the same angular separation from one another (in other words, they are evenly distributed around the perimeter of the ratchet wheel 33 such that the space between adjacent teeth 45 is constant).

In the illustrated example, each reset spring 39 is a wire spring that is wrapped around a section of the corresponding adjusting mechanism 25. One end of the reset spring 39 is attached to the adjusting mechanism 25 (e.g., to the ratchet wheel 33 or to the locking element 23 associated with the ratchet wheel 33). The other end of the reset spring 39 is guided upward tangentially from the corresponding adjustment mechanism 25 (and/or tangentially from the locking member 23) and is attached to the slide 3. The reset spring 39, thus, lies above the locking member 23/ratchet wheel 33.

The reset spring 39 is tensed or loaded by rotating the ratchet wheel 33 and/or the locking member 23 clockwise, as seen from behind. In the rest position, the end tooth 47 hits the section of the reset spring 39 that is affixed in the slide 3. The reset spring 39 is driven counterclockwise as it unwinds. If the ratchet wheel 33 is turned one full rotation (clockwise against the force of the spring 39) so that the reset spring 39 is more fully loaded, then the end tooth 47 hits the reset spring 39 from the opposite side to prevent further rotation.

Each control button 37 is, as seen from behind, pressed to the left by the force of the button reset spring 41 located in the slide 3 (see, for example, FIG. 6-8). Each control button 37 has a button projection 49 that engages a corresponding one of the ratchet wheels 33. If a control button 37 is pressed into the slide 3, its button projection 49 engages a latch tooth 45 and turns the corresponding ratchet wheel 33 by slightly more than one-tenth of a rotation.

A claw 43 is arranged on the side of the ratchet wheel 33 opposite the control button 37 (i.e., on the right side as seen from behind). The claw 43 is pressed against the ratchet wheel 33 to engage a latch tooth 45. The claw 43 engages a new latch tooth 45 after each time the button 37 is pushed to turn the ratchet wheel 33. The attained pivot position of the ratchet wheel 33 is, thus, held by the claw 43. Turning of the ratchet wheel 33 in the clockwise direction is possible because each latch tooth 45 includes a camming surface which pushes the claw 43 away from the ratchet wheel 33 (i.e., toward the outside) when the ratchet wheel 33 is rotated. The camming surfaces of the latch teeth 45, the engaging surfaces of the latch teeth 45, and the claw 43, thus, form a simple latch lock, wherein the claw 43 is guided around (and ultimately into engagement with) an approaching latch tooth 45 whenever the button 37 is pressed to rotate the ratchet wheel 33.

As with the star wheels 35, each ratchet wheel 33 is provided with a continuous slit/channel/keyhole 57 through which a nose/bar 27 of the corresponding locking element 23 may pass. The ratchet wheels 33 are preferably mounted on their corresponding locking element 23 such that a portion of the nose/bar 27 of the locking element 23 is positioned within the keyhole 57 of the ratchet wheel 33. Thus, when a ratchet wheel 33 is rotated by pushing the corresponding control button inward, the corresponding locking element 23 will rotate a like amount.

The height of the slit/channels/keyholes 57 (i.e., as measured in the circumferential direction) of the ratchet wheels 33 and the star wheels 35 is selected such that the nose/bar 27 of the corresponding locking element 23 may slide through without interference. The combined axial thickness of each adjacent ratchet wheel 33 and star wheel 35 corresponds to the distance that the striker 15 must move forward in order to strike and fire a cartridge.

As mentioned above, each star wheel 35 is set at an angular position which determines the code of the safety lock. By pivoting a ratchet wheel 33 and, thus, its associated locking element 23 to the same angular position as its corresponding star wheel 35, the nose/bar 27 of the corresponding locking element 23 can run into the slit/channel/keyhole 57 of the corresponding star wheel 35. As mentioned above, each locking element 23 is angularly secured to its corresponding ratchet wheel 33 such that the locking element 23/ratchet wheel 33 can be rotated from one of the ten angular positions to another by pushing the corresponding button 37 and such that the locking element 33 may slide axially relative to the ratchet wheel 33. Preferably, there is only one slit/channel/keyhole 57 in each star wheel 35 and in each ratchet wheel 33. As a result, there is only one single position out of the ten possible positions of each star wheel 35 and each ratchet wheel 33 in which the striker 15 is permitted to move axially relative to the corresponding star wheel 35 and ratchet wheel 33. By pushing the buttons 37 one or more times (i.e., by the number of times required to pivot the nose/bar 27 of the locking member 23 into the angular position corresponding to the keyhole 57 of the corresponding star wheel 35), each of the locking member 23/ratchet wheel 33 units may be positioned in the position to permit axial movement of the striker 15. Unless each of the locking members 23/ratchet wheel 33 units is positioned such that the corresponding nose/bar 27 can penetrate into the slit/channel/keyhole 57 of the corresponding star wheel 35, the striker 15 is held against axial movement and, thus, the weapon cannot be fired.

Preferably, the shooter knows the identification number (i.e., the combination corresponding to the positions of the keyholes 57 of the star wheels 35) to unlock his pistol. The identification number preferably has as many digits as it has control buttons 37 or star wheels 35/ratchet wheels 33/locking elements 23. Preferably, the starting/neutral position of each locking member 23 (or of each nose/bar 27 of each locking member 23) corresponds to the number zero (i.e., to zero pushes of the corresponding control button 37). When a locking member 23 is in this starting/neutral position, then the corresponding button 37 must be depressed as many times as needed (i.e., a number corresponding to the position of the slit/channel 57 of the corresponding star wheel 35) to position the corresponding nose/bar 27 in the unlocked position. In this sense, the adjustment mechanisms 25 act as counters in that each time the corresponding control button 37 is pushed in, the nose/bar 27 of the associated locking element 23 is toggled one position. Thus, each time the control button 37 is pushed, the count (i.e., the position of the nose/bar 27) is incremented by one position.

Once all of the locking members 23 are positioned such that all of the noses/bars 27 can slide into their corresponding slit/channels/keyholes 57, the striker 15 can move to fire a cartridge in response to an impact from the hammer 5. If just one of the locking member 23 is not properly set, then axial movement of the striker 15 and thus, firing, is blocked.

As easily seen in FIGS. 6-8, each claw 43 has a spring lever, called a release lever 59 in the following discussion. The free ends of all of the release levers 59 are connected together as one piece via a connection rod 63 (see FIG. 5). The reset button 61, which protrudes through the wall of the slide 3 to the outside (i.e., on the side of the weapon that lies opposite the control buttons 37 as shown in FIG. 2), engages the exterior of this connection rod 63 as shown in FIG. 5. If the reset button 61 is quickly pressed, then all of the adjusting mechanisms 25 (i.e., all of the ratchet wheels 33/locking elements 23) are reset to their neutral positions (e.g., to a position corresponding to a zero count). The weapon is, therefore, secured. An observer may not necessarily be able to determine that the weapon is in this condition just by looking at it, as is also the case when the weapon is in the unlocked state.

More specifically, each of the release levers 59 has a pivot point 60 wherein the lever 59 engages a wall of the weapon adjacent the ratchet wheel 33 (see FIGS. 6-8). If the ends of the release levers 59 opposite the claw 43 are pressed in the direction of the corresponding ratchet wheel 33, then the ends of the release levers 59 having the claws 43 are moved away from their associated ratchet wheels 33 as a result of the pivoting of the release levers 59 about the pivot points 60. The ratchet wheels 33 are thus released and rotate back to the neutral position (e.g., to the position corresponding to number zero) under the effect of their corresponding reset springs 39. The above mentioned stops created by the engagement between the reset springs 39 and their corresponding end teeth 47 stop the ratchet wheels 33 from further rotation. The lock washers (i.e., the ratchet wheel 33/locking element 23 combinations) are thereby reset to their starting positions.

Before unlocking the weapon, the reset button 61 is preferably pressed in to ensure that the safety lock is in its starting or neutral position (i.e., with all locking elements 23 set to the “zero” position). Then, the control buttons 37 are pushed to move the corresponding lock washers (i.e., the ratchet wheel 33/locking element 23 combinations) to the positions that permit firing movement of the striker 15. This can be done easily and safely in the dark, and even when wearing gloves, by simply pushing each of the buttons 37 the required number of times. Eye contact with the weapon is not required as there are no exposed symbols or numbers on the lock washers (i.e., the tumblers) to align. Instead, one always starts the unlocking process from a known position (i.e., the “zero” position reached by pushing the reset button 61) and then clicks each of the buttons 37 the number of times corresponding to the combination that releases the safety mechanism. For example, if the combination is “123”, to release the weapon for firing, one would first push the reset button 61 to ensure the lock washers are set to their starting positions. Then, the first (e.g., the forward most) control button 37 is pressed one time, the second control button 37 is pressed two times, and the third control button 37 (e.g., the button closes to the shooter's body) is pressed three times to free the striker 15 for forward movement.

In the illustrated example, the control buttons 37 may be toggled in any desired order as there is no order dependency between the lock washers. However, one can envision an interlocked system in which it is necessary to enter the combination in a precise order. Such a mechanism could be constructed by providing a one way connection between at least two of the lock washers so that toggling some lock washer will also toggle one or more other lock washers. Therefore, toggling the control buttons in the wrong order would result in at least one of the lock washers counting an incorrect number and, thus, maintaining the safety lock in the locked state.

Returning to the illustrated example, after the weapon is cocked, one can determine whether or not the weapon is secured by the safety lock by quickly pressing a finger on the back end of the striker 15. If the striker 15 does not move (or moves only a slight amount), it is locked.

If the weapon is to be released from one's hand or if one is forced to put the weapon down, then it suffices to press the reset button 61 once in order to secure the safety lock again. It is irrelevant whether the weapon is cocked or not, or whether the slide 3 is open or not. In any of these cases, the striker 15 will be secured against forward (i.e., firing) movement.

The control buttons 37 and the reset button 61 are preferably located in bores defined in the slide 3. As a result, the control buttons 37 preferably do not tower above the surfaces of the slide 3. Therefore, the control buttons 37 will not be activated by placing the weapon in a bag or the like. However, it is also possible to let the reset button 61 spring slightly forward of the slide surface, so that placing the weapon in a bag or the like activates the reset button 61 so that the safety lock does not remain unlocked by accident, but, instead, automatically locks.

The locking element 23 has a nose/bar 27, which projects radially outward toward the outside and extends a distance rearward from the front part of the locking element 23. The locking element 23 sits adjacent a ratchet wheel 33 which has a recess for receiving the nose/bar 27. The ratchet wheel 33 can be rotated into one of ten different angular positions via a control button 37 or a reset button 61 (the reset button 61 preferably moves the ratchet wheel to a predefined starting position corresponding to zero, whereas the button 37 toggles the ratchet wheel 33 in one direction from position to adjacent position in one position increments). The locking element 23 is rotated by the movement of the ratchet wheel 33. Thus, rotating the ratchet wheel 33 rotates the corresponding locking member 23.

A star wheel 35, which also has a recess 57 dimensioned to receive the nose 27 of the locking element 23, sits in front of and adjacent the ratchet wheel 33. The star wheel 35 defines ten pivot positions and is held in place in one of those positions by a spring biased contact 53, 55. The position of the star wheel 35 determines the code of the weapon (i.e., the position required by the ratchet wheel 33/locking member 23 to align the nose/bar 27 with the channel 57 of the star wheel 35).

If each ratchet wheel 33 is placed in the pivot position in which its recess 57 is aligned with the recess 57 of its adjacent, forwardly-located, star wheel 35, then all of the locking elements 23 and, thus, the striker 15 can be moved forward to fire a shot. The nose 27 of each locking element 23 preferably always remains engaged with its corresponding ratchet wheel 33, such that rotating the ratchet wheel 33 rotates the corresponding locking element 23.

To adjust the code, (e.g., by changing the angular position of one or more of the star wheels 35), then the lock must first be unlocked and the striker 15 must then be pushed forward such that the noses/bars 27 penetrate the keyholes 57 of their corresponding star wheels 35 and ratchet wheels 33. In this condition, pressing the reset button 61 moves all of the adjustment mechanisms 25 (i.e., all of the ratchet wheels 33 and the locking members 23) and all of the star wheels 35 to the neutral (“zero”) position such that the combination is reset to “000.” The combination can then be adjusted to any combination between “000” and “999” by actuating the control buttons 37 such that each ratchet wheel 33 and, thus, each star wheel 35 is placed in the position of the new code. The striker 15 is then moved rearward such that the noses-bars 27 disengage from their corresponding star wheels 35. Pressing the reset button 61 then returns the weapon to the locked state with a new combination having been set.

For safety reasons, a new code cannot be set before the old code has been entered (i.e., to enable the striker 15 to move forward such that the noses/bars 27 engage their corresponding star wheels 35). This requirement guarantees that only authorized persons who know the old code can set a new combination.

Although the disclosed example locks the striker 15 against sufficient forward movement to fire a cartridge, the striker 15 does not necessarily need to be fixed in the locked state. Instead, it can be moved out of alignment with the hammer 5 or a cover can be moved between the hammer 5 and striker 15. This cover protects the striker 15 from the blow of the hammer 5.

From the foregoing, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the above disclosed firearm employs a safety lock which, in a locked state, immobilizes the striker 15 at least insofar as the striker 15 cannot be moved into the firing position, whereby the safety lock can only be deactivated (i.e., placed in the unlocked state) by entering a key or code.

For semi-automatic pistols, safeties are known that immobilize the strikers. However, the disclosed safety lock is differentiated from these prior art safeties in that the disclosed safety can only be unlocked by a counter-piece, (e.g., a key in the broadest sense), or better, by a code.

Sometimes it is advantageous if the safety device can be activated in the shortest possible time or in the easiest possible manner. Then; for example, if the shooter is forced to give away the weapon or when there is an acute danger that the weapon might be lost, the safety can be easily and quickly activated to prevent firing of the weapon.

It should also be prevented that an unauthorized person, (i.e., a youth that lives in the same building in which the weapon is stored), can learn how to unlock the weapon simply by examining the unlocked weapon. On the other hand, the situation may require that the weapon be relinquished for use by someone other than the owner, for example, on the shooting stand. This other person should also not be able to determine the unlocking information by examining the weapon. Use by a third person is hardly possible without interfering with the safety, if the owner's fingerprint is first checked and the weapon is only released for firing if this print is provided.

The safety device should be as simple as possible. To the extent possible, already existing weapons should be able to be retrofitted with the safety device. Additionally, the safety device should be as light and inexpensive as possible. Moreover, the weapon should be simple, should be unlockable in the dark and/or without eye contact with the release mechanism, should be able to be relinquished for use by trusted third parties and should be able to be locked very quickly and in as unnoticeable a manner as possible.

The example safety lock includes at least one pushbutton 37 which is arranged in an accessible and depressible manner on the outside of the weapon. Depressing the at least one pushbutton 37 rotates a lug 27 around the longitudinal axis of the striker 15. A switch body 35 has a non-round bore hole penetrated by the striker 15. The outer contour of the lug 27 when combined with that of the striker 15 is complementary to the non-round bore hole of the switch body 35 so that this part 27 and the striker 15 can only pass the non-round bore hole when the lug 27 is located in a certain pivot position.

The striker 15 is thereby locked by the safety lock. The disclosed example safety lock is not set with a number dial and cannot be controlled through electrical sensing devices. Rather it can only be unlocked by depressing one or more pushbuttons 27 a certain number of times. This operation can take place in the dark or be performed by a person that is not familiar with the symbols of a number dial. Even if the weapon is not used for years, the safety lock can be used again immediately without the need for a battery.

If the lug(s) 27 are placed in the correct pivot position(s), then the weapon can be used by anyone. But if the pushbuttons 37 of the ready-for-use weapon are pressed again, then it is once again rendered unusable. Thus, it is possible to lock a weapon very quickly, even unnoticed, so that it cannot be used by an unauthorized person.

Since the safety lock only locks the striker 15, any weapon function not involving movement of the striker 15 can be performed on the secured weapon. Thus, it may appear that the weapon is not locked. But shooting is in no way possible.

The weapon secured by the disclosed safety device can be any type of hand gun. For example, the safety device may be used with a pistol, or a Kipplauf shotgun, in the basquill of which the pushbutton(s) 37 are attached. These pushbuttons 37 can, for example, sit under a decorative plate and be invisible under normal conditions. Thus, increased safety is created in situations where, for example a child obtains possession of a weapon and thereby causes injury or damage. The illustrated safety device is particularly advantageous when employed in a semi-automatic weapon (e.g., a pistol) wherein the safety device is located in the at least partially open-lying lock of the weapon.

In a modern military and other use pistol, (usually of the Colt-Browning system type), the lock, (namely, the so-called slide 3), is completely free and the magazine shaft is located between the back end of the barrel and the hammer 5. With this type of pistol, the overall length is generally available in the direction of fire that at least corresponds with the length of the magazine shaft. This overall length is sufficient for at least three pushbuttons with dedicated locking washer mechanisms lying next to each other in the direction of fire.

Each locking element 23 can be structured as a uniform body, (e.g. like a gear rod), or like a group of individual discontiguous elements, (e.g. spheres), of which one is a bit smaller than the others. Each ratchet wheel 33 is preferably designed as a transversely-toothed lock washer with latch toothed wheels 45, whereby a claw 43 is attached that holds the lock washer in the selected angular position.

The lock washer is easiest and most reliably formed in the space that is available in a pistol slide 3. In particular, the lock washer requires very little space in the axial and radial direction. The limited radial and axial space generally available is, thus, best used for the lock washer.

Three lock washers are preferably provided. When using the disclosed safety device in a semi-automatic pistol, a slide 3 can be created whose length is fully used, but which does not exceed that of a common slide. Thus, an optimal slide 3 can be created that can be easily exchanged for a common slide to retrofit an existing weapon.

Of course, a weapon employing the illustrated safety lock is only secure like, for example, a safe with a permutation lock, which can be opened at the latest after trying all permutations. However, in most circumstances, an unauthorized person gaining access to the weapon will not likely have several hours to try out all permutations to unlock the weapon for firing. It is extremely unlikely that an unauthorized person who temporarily acquires the weapon will finds the right permutation to unlock the weapon in a few quick tries. Even an unauthorized relative, like a youth, cannot use the weapon of the authorized person from having previously observed the weapon in use (for example, by reading a combination from the tumblers of the safety lock); not even when the weapon is stored in an inaccessible manner and he/she acquires it temporarily.

Each lock washer may be relayed or toggled by pressing the corresponding push button 37. During this toggling process, the unlocked weapon is continuously secure, unless the proper combination is entered. Unlocking may be checked by pressing on the striker 15 for movement, or by an indicator device. However, an indicator device is insecure because even an unauthorized person might also see the indicator device. If the indicator device were designed as a visible counter, the advantage that the weapon can be unlocked without displaying the combination would be lost. Thus, the illustrated example employs a reset device which is assigned to each lock washer which enables the safety lock to be displaceable into a defined starting position by a simple operation. As a result, the unlock setting may be easily reached (if the combination is known) through the simple counted pressing of the individual pushbuttons 37. This operation may be performed quickly, exactly, and without eye contact.

Before setting the weapon in the unlocked state, the safety lock may be displaced into the defined starting position for reasons of precaution so that the unlocked setting succeeds without a doubt in each case.

Insofar as several lock washers are provided, each one can be assigned its own reset device. This has the advantage that, when an inaccuracy befalls the shooter when setting a lock washer this lock washer can be set again separately. It is preferred, however, that the reset devices of all of the lock washers have a common actuation device 61. It has been determined that the setting of the pushbuttons 37 generally takes place without error, so that the individual resetting of lock washers is typically unnecessary. On the other hand, when using only one reset device for all of the lock washers, it cannot happen that a lock washer is not reset by accident before the setting process.

The illustrated device employs a reset spring 39. An end stop is preferably assigned to each lock washer. This end stop ensures that no reset spring 39 is overstressed by faulty operation and, thus, the safety lock can continue to function without incident for decades.

The reset spring 39 must be stable and durable, but can only occupy very little space. It is, thus, preferred that each reset spring 39 is implemented by a wire spring that is wrapped around the lock washer it services or a component attached to the lock washer it services. Such a wire spring 39 can be long enough to not be overstressed and to be simultaneously housed in an extremely space-saving manner by being wrapped around the component or the like. One end of the wire spring 39 must be attached to a stationary part, for example to the slide 3. The fixed end of the spring 39, which extends tangentially away from the wrapped component, can moreover be used as the end stop for the lock washer.

The latch teeth 45 can wear out or get dirty. In such circumstances, the angular position of the lock washer may shift by an angle relative to the target position. However, the target position should be adhered to as strictly as possible in order to ensure the most precise definition possible for the release position. The safety lock should be implemented as precisely as possible in order to prevent an unauthorized person from opening the safety lock simply by putting stress on the striker 15 or by carefully switching through the lock washers, as is possible for example with a cheap bicycle lock. Furthermore, the reaching of each switch position may be accompanied by a quiet by clearly audible sounds or by a detectable vibration of the weapon in order to make it clear to the shooter that the corresponding switch position has indeed been reached.

It is suggested that a star wheel 35, the catch bearing of which can be changed, is assigned to the lock washer or to each lock washer. By changing the position of the star wheels 35, the encoding can be changed.

When turned, each ratchet wheel 33 carries along a radial projection 27, which can only penetrate the star wheel 35 in a certain angular position. Thus, the pivot position of each ratchet wheel 33 must be adjusted to that of the corresponding star wheel 35 before axial movement of the striker 15 can occur. The radial projection 27 is attached to the striker 15 in a rotatable, but axially immobile, manner. Only when all of the radial projections 27 are freed to move axially into their assigned star wheels 35, can the striker 15 also move axially. If the secured striker 15 is pressed into and held in the forward position when the safety lock is in the unlocked state, the star wheels 35 can be adjusted by adjusting the ratchet wheels 33. The safety lock may, thus, be encoded with a new code.

Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A safety lock for a firearm having a slide and a striker which is movable relative to the slide to fire a cartridge, the safety lock comprising: a lock plate having a non-round bore penetrated by the striker; a locking element rotatably mounted on the striker to immobilize the striker sufficiently to prevent firing of a cartridge, the locking element having at least one radial projection, a combined outer contour of the at least one radial projection and the striker being complementary to the non-round bore of the lock plate such that the locking element can only pass into the non-round bore when the locking element is positioned in a predetermined angular position; and at least one pushbutton accessible on the outside of the firearm and operatively coupled to the locking element to rotate the locking element around the striker to unlock the safety lock.
 2. A safety lock as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety lock is located in the slide of a semi-automatic or automatic handgun.
 3. A safety lock as defined in claim 1, further comprising a ratchet wheel with latch teeth coupled to the lock element to secure the lock element in an angular position.
 4. A safety lock as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock element comprises a plurality of lock elements and each of the lock elements is coupled to a respective ratchet wheel to secure the corresponding lock element in an angular position.
 5. A safety lock as defined in claim 3, wherein each of the ratchet wheels is coupled to a respective reset device.
 6. A safety lock as defined in claim 5, wherein the reset devices of the ratchet wheels are coupled to a common actuator.
 7. A safety lock as defined in claim 5, wherein end stops are respectively assigned to each ratchet wheel to limit rotation of the ratchet wheels, and wherein reset springs are respectively coupled to the reset devices.
 8. A safety lock as defined in claim 7, wherein each reset spring comprises a wrapped wire spring.
 9. A safety lock as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock plate comprises a star wheel having catch grooves or projections on its perimeter to removably secure the star wheel in an angular position.
 10. A firearm comprising: a slide; a safety lock located within the slide, the safety lock having a locked state wherein the safety lock precludes firing of the firearm and an unlocked state wherein the safety lock does not preclude firing of the firearm, the safety lock entering the unlocked state upon entry of a combination; and a plurality of pushbuttons accessible from external to the slide to enter the combination, wherein no symbols representative of the combination are visible external to the firearm.
 11. For use in retrofitting a firearm, a slide comprising: a striker located within the slide; a safety lock located within the slide, the safety lock having a locked state wherein the safety lock precludes firing movement of the striker and an unlocked state wherein the safety lock does not preclude firing movement of the striker, the safety lock entering the unlocked state upon entry of a combination; and a plurality of pushbuttons accessible from external to the slide to enter the combination, wherein no symbols representative of the combination are visible external to the slide.
 12. A firearm comprising: a slide; a safety lock located within the slide, the safety lock having a locked state wherein the safety lock precludes firing movement of the striker and an unlocked state wherein the safety lock does not preclude firing movement of the striker, the safety lock including a plurality of counters which place the safety lock in the unlocked state when predetermined values are respectively counted by the counters; and a plurality of pushbuttons accessible from external to the slide to toggle respective ones of the counters to unlock the safety lock.
 13. A firearm as defined in claim 12 wherein the counters are mechanical counters.
 14. A firearm as defined in claim 12 further comprising a reset button to reset the counters to a zero state.
 15. A firearm as defined in claim 12 wherein the plurality of counters are independent such that toggling one of the counters does not change the count of any other one of the counters.
 16. A firearm as defined in claim 12 wherein at least two of the plurality of counters are coupled such that toggling one of the at least two counters changes the count of the other of the at least two counters.
 17. For use in a firearm having a slide and a striker, a safety lock comprising: a star wheel rotatably mounted within the slide, the star wheel defining a keyhole, the angular position of the keyhole being selected by the angular position of the star wheel; a locking element rotatably mounted on the striker, the locking element having a projection dimensioned to pass through the keyhole when the projection and keyhole have a same angular position; a ratchet wheel coupled to the locking element for rotation therewith; a release lever cooperating with the ratchet wheel to releasably secure the locking element against rotation; a pushbutton accessible exterior to the slide to rotate the ratchet wheel and the locking element a predetermined distance each time the pushbutton is depressed; and a reset spring biasing the ratchet wheel and the locking element toward a zero position, wherein the angular position of the star wheel defines a number of times the pushbutton must be depressed to place the locking element in the same angular position as the star wheel.
 18. A firearm as defined in claim 17 wherein no external indicator of the number of times the pushbutton must be depressed to place the locking element in the same angular position as the star wheel is provided.
 19. A firearm as defined in claim 17 further comprising a reset actuator to release the release lever to permit the reset spring to return the ratchet wheel and the locking element to the zero position.
 20. A firearm as defined in claim 17 wherein the angular position of the star wheel is changeable by: placing the locking element in the same angular position as the star wheel; pushing the striker and the locking element forward to engage the projection in the star wheel; and actuating the pushbutton a desired number of times to rotate the star wheel to the desired angular position.
 21. A firearm as defined in claim 17 further comprising moving the star wheel to a zero position. 